One of the Hottest Toys Right Now Is This "Fire-Breathing" Bowser Doll (2024)

Even though it's just a year, there's a big difference between kids who are 7 and kids who are 8 years old. By the time they're 8, you'll be amazed at what they can accomplish — the artworks they can make, the strategy games they can try, the coding and the STEM-themed projects they can do — and without an adult walking them through every step of the process. In other words, they're so big!

When it comes to shopping for gifts for kids of this age, they're ready for toys and gifts that offer something more, be it a mental challenge to complete, an outlet for their energy or a way to express their creativity. And yet you still want to get them items that offer lots of opportunities for fun, be it by encouraging pretend play, getting them outside and active, working their critical-thinking skills or teaching them a cool new skill.

To thread that needle, the Good Housekeeping Institute tests toys of all sorts — from STEM sets to board games — getting feedback from parents and kids themselves about what they liked and didn't like. The Institute's experts, too, evaluate the toys for safety and durability (The best of the best wind up winning Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards.) And Good Housekeeping editors also keep an eye on trendy toys and bestsellers, staying on top of what's hot. With all that in mind, these emerged as the best toys and gifts for 8-year-old boys in 2024. Brainteasers, board games, activity sets and everything Nintendo seems to be at the top of the list for gifts for 8-year-old boys (or gifts for 8-year-old girls, or gifts for 8-year-olds in general) — and ours, too!

Kids will be amazed when they see this car drive up the walls and even onto the ceiling! And yet, it won't leave scuff marks on your walls or roof. Ages 4+

This pen is an affordable way to get kids to learn the basics of 3D printing. They can use the pen to melt different colors of filament and then layer them until they get a 3D shape. No age recommendation given

Sure, Goombas are usually bad guys — but these 15-inch Goomba plushies are surprisingly comfortable to use as a pillow. They come in other characters from the worlds of Mario, Mario Kart, Zelda, Sonic and Kirby, among others. Ages 3+

It's a game of strategy and speed! Players divide themselves into opposing teams, then face off in rapid-fire rounds that only last 60 seconds each. Can they handle the pressure? Ages 7+

They'll want to stay active and outside even after the sun goes down once they see how cool these glowing, LED-enabled rockets look as they streak through the dark. Stomp Rocket says they can be launched up to 100 feet! Ages 6+

For non-suss Crewmates who want to get their tasks done, these stampers can help. There are five characters in a pack — 20 to collect in all — and three hat accessories, too. Ages 3+

Forget the blocky balancing games you know — these twisty wires can stack and hang in all sorts of interesting ways, giving players more of a challenge. They'll have to have good fine-motor coordination and strategy skills to keep it from toppling. Ages 8+

A new twist on the classic game Simon Says, this one is a fun memory booster that's perfect for killing time on a long road trip, where kids can play solo or turn it into a two-player game. The challenge is to memorize the light sequence and follow along for as long as possible, without breaking the pattern! Bonus: Batteries are included so you can play ASAP. Ages 7+

Kids can make good use of their creative juices with this tee, which comes with a pen-sized UV flashlight that lets them draw their own designs that really glow! After about five minutes, the drawing fades and they can make something new. And yet, you can still put it in the washing machine (just not the dryer). Sizes 3T – XL

Most RC cars can glide along your floors, but this one can go off-roading, and we mean really off-roading, including water. Ages 6+

Yes, this kit is filled will help him learn awesome magic tricks, and comes with actual VR goggles to use, but it can also help with building confidence, especially if you allow him to put on a show for the family! Ages 8+

This box comes with enough supplies for kids to make 80 different paper airplanes. In addition, they'll learn about different ways of folding paper airplanes, and they'll also get stickers so they can decorate their fleet before it takes off. Ages 6+

With this set, kids can design marble runs that use curves, drops and other cool tools. They'll have to put their engineer hats on, and also experiment with concepts like gravity, velocity and cause-and-effect. It comes with more than 120 pieces, and expansion packs are also available with even more elaborate features. Ages 8+

It's probably hard to get him stuff he'll actually like for his room (he's so specific!), but trust us, this blanket will be a hit. Amazon reviewers say it's super-soft, well-made and really does glow in the dark. No age recommendation given.

If your 8-year-old boy is into vehicles, Snap Ships are a building toy line that uses interchangeable pieces to make different spacecraft. Each set can build multiple ships, and also comes with a surprise piece to give it extra "power." Our toy testers loved changing up the designs, and parents found them to be sturdy. Ages 8+

He'll spend time excavating fossils, like shark teeth! Sure, they're only replicas, but it will speak to his interests if he's into the ancient world. You can also get an Ultimate Dino Kit. Ages 8+

Kids can get the foundations of coding with this robot, which lets kids control it with voice commands that explore loops, commands, events and sequences. Then, use the Wonder Workshop's free apps to program Dash to sing, draw and move around. Ages 6+

This paper airplane teaches principles of flight, aerodynamics and lift while encouraging outside play. It's easy to build and connect to bluetooth, so kids can control the plane directly from a mobile device through the free app. Ages 8+

The 8-year-old in your life can help avoid a nuclear meltdown with this game meant to be played with two or more people. To play, they pack and roll goo cubes together, and use their critical-thinking skills to balance the squishy cubes on a platform that shifts unpredictably. If any cubes fall, you'll have to re-stack it. The game is over when all the cubes are stacked! Ages 7+